Juneau Faces Possible Cruise Visitor Surge with New Dock

The City of Juneau, Alaska, is bracing for a possible surge in cruise ship visitors as a new private dock nears completion, according to theJuneau Independent.

The upcoming two-berth port could push visitor numbers beyond the current voluntary cap of five ships per day, prompting discussions about whether additional regulations may be needed.

Located on land owned by Goldbelt Incorporated, the new cruise terminal will allow the city to host up to seven ships at once. Some officials believe the current limits will remain despite the new capacity, while others argue that Juneau should reassess its ability to handle future growth.

“Even with current visitation limits in place through 2027, additional berths signal future growth,” said Jill Lawhorne, community development director for the City and Borough of Juneau. “Infrastructure capacity must be evaluated to match potential increases in visitors.”

The Goldbelt Aaní Cruise Port, being developed in partnership with the Royal Caribbean Group, is slated to open before the 2028 summer cruise season. The facility is designed to enhance Juneau’s tourism infrastructure, alleviate traffic congestion, and improve the experience for residents and travelers alike.

The Juneau Independent noted that city leaders had previously indicated the “strong probability the five-ship limit would apply to the new dock — meaning a dispersal of existing total passengers rather than an increase in them.”

At a recent town assembly, CBJ Tourism Director Alexandra Pierce emphasized that “the Assembly’s current direction to staff, which is supported by several years of community survey data, is to maintain visitor volume at a steady level.”

However, Pierce acknowledged that the addition of seven cruise berths will “substantially increase the community’s visitor capacity,” urging city officials to plan ahead.

“To responsibly consider this level of potential growth, CBJ must evaluate both the offsite impacts and the capacity of Juneau’s infrastructure to accommodate increased visitation,” she said.

Pierce also proposed creating a ten-year tourism strategy for Juneau, using data-driven benchmarks to ensure sustainable growth. The report added that this approach would mark a shift from the city’s current policy, which has focused primarily on minimizing the negative effects of tourism on local residents.